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YOUNGSTOWN -- The apparent low bid for a major pump station addition that distributes Youngstown water to most of Austintown and Canfield townships came in about $1.2 million below the city's estimate.
Marucci & Gaffney Excavating Co. of Youngstown, which frequently does work for the city, submitted the apparent low bid of $7,749,054 for the work. The next lowest apparent bid came from A.P. O'Horo of Liberty at $8,921,645.
There were three other bids -- ranging from $9,608,518.20 to $10,231,310.
The city's estimate was about $8.9 million, said Water Commissioner Harry L. Johnson III.
"We always like when the numbers come in lower than the estimate," Johnson said.
He said he is working to get the board of control to approve the Marucci & Gaffney bid at its Thursday meeting as a late item.
But despite the sense of urgency to award the bid, the work won't be able to start for another six months, Johnson said.
City council voted June 18, 2025, to authorize the board of control to sign an agreement with the Ohio Water Development Authority to borrow up to $9 million for the project.
Causing some of the delay, Johnson said, is "we're still negotiating with a homeowner over a parcel of land we need. That's been an issue we've been trying to resolve. We have to get the land issue resolved. That's with the law department right now. We're going back and forth with a landowner. We're moving in the right direction."
The contract is for two main waterlines to connect a planned upgrade to the Webb Road pump station and the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District waterline feed, as well as build a road for the lines.
The city will borrow the money for this work from an OWDA loan to be paid back over 20 years, Johnson said.
The city is waiting for EFI-Solutions Inc. of Centralia, Illinois, to finish building the new pump station off-site. EFI-Solution is getting $2,914,839 to build the pump station with the city paying the company out of water funds.
This second pump station at Webb Road is being built because the one there now is in need of repairs. That station distributes water to most of Austintown and Canfield townships through four pipes, which are corroding. This work will add two more pipes.
"I'll be happy when we get this done," Johnson said. "If all goes well, it will all be done in the next 12 months. If the current pipes were to break, people would be out of water. Thinking about it keeps me up at night."